Kalash Summer Festival Tour (Uchal)
The Kalash Summer Festival Tour is a 10-day trip to Chitral and the Kalash valleys in August, to celebrate Uchal, the summer harvest festival, when shepherds come down from the high pastures with cheese and the villages dance through the night.
- Duration10 Days
- PaceEasy
- RegionsChitral & Kalash valleys
- Best SeasonAugust
- GroupPrivate, 2+
A Harvest Celebration in the Hindu Kush
The Kalash Summer Festival Tour visits the Kalash valleys of Chitral during Uchal, the festival that marks the summer harvest of wheat and the return of shepherds from the high pastures. Fresh cheese and fruit are shared between families, and the community gathers for songs and dances that can last late into the night.
Summer is also the greenest season in the Hindu Kush. Between festival days we walk among walnut and apricot orchards, visit village homes and the Kalash Dur museum, and spend time in Chitral town with its fort and Shahi Mosque.
Trip Highlights
- Join Uchal, the Kalash summer harvest festival
- Walk through walnut and apricot orchards in the Kalash valleys
- Visit the Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir valleys
- Kalash Dur museum and Kalash family homes
- Chitral Fort, the Shahi Mosque and the Chitral bazaar
- Local Kalash contacts and a cultural guide from TGA
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Islamabad
Our team meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel. Evening welcome briefing.
Overnight: HotelDay 2Fly to Chitral (approx. 1,500 m)
Mountain flight to Chitral. If the flight is cancelled we drive via Swat and the Lowari Tunnel instead (two days).
Overnight: HotelDay 3Chitral town
Visit Chitral Fort, the Shahi Mosque and the bazaar, and enjoy views of Tirich Mir.
Overnight: HotelDay 4Drive to Bumburet
About 2 hours into the Kalash valleys. Afternoon visit to the Kalash Dur museum and a village walk.
Overnight: GuesthouseDay 5Orchards of Bumburet
A gentle walk through orchards and fields to the upper villages of Bumburet, with tea in a Kalash home.
Overnight: GuesthouseDay 6Uchal festival
Join the Uchal celebrations, as families share cheese and fruit and the villages gather for songs and dances.
Overnight: GuesthouseDay 7Rumbur Valley
Day trip to the Rumbur Valley, often home to the liveliest Uchal dances.
Overnight: GuesthouseDay 8Birir Valley
Visit the Birir Valley and its traditional wooden houses, then return to Bumburet.
Overnight: GuesthouseDay 9Back to Chitral, fly to Islamabad
Drive to Chitral for the flight to Islamabad, or continue by road if flights are cancelled. Farewell dinner.
Overnight: HotelDay 10Depart
Transfer to Islamabad International Airport for your flight home.
Overnight: —Itineraries can change with weather, flights, road conditions and festival dates. Your guide will always put safety first.
What's Included
Included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Hotels in Islamabad and Chitral, guesthouses in the Kalash valleys
- Domestic flights Islamabad–Chitral–Islamabad, or road transport via the Lowari Tunnel if flights are cancelled
- Breakfast and dinner in the Kalash valleys
- Kalash valley entry fees and local registration
- Daily breakfast and the meals listed in the itinerary
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
- English-speaking cultural guide throughout
- Entry fees to all monuments and museums in the itinerary
- Letter of invitation (LOI) for your Pakistan visa
Not Included
- International flights to and from Pakistan
- Pakistan visa fee
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses such as shopping, laundry and phone calls
- Anything not listed under "Included"
Moments from the Trail
Why Choose the Kalash Summer Festival Tour?
The Kalash Summer Festival Tour combines a living festival with the best weather of the year in Chitral. The valleys are green, the orchards are full of fruit and the evenings are warm enough to enjoy the dances outdoors.
The pace is easy and the tour suits families and travellers of all ages. For a spring celebration, see our Kalash Spring Festival Tour; you can also add a few days in the Hunza Valley after Chitral.
Before you travel, read our Pakistan visa guide and our advice on travel insurance, or browse all our culture tours in Pakistan.
Plan the rest of your trip
Good to Know
Respect & Photography
The Kalash are a small community with their own faith and customs. Always ask before taking photos of people, never enter sacred places unless invited, and follow your guide's advice during rituals.
Festival Dates
The Kalash community sets festival dates each year, and they can move by a few days. We confirm the exact dates with our local contacts before your trip and plan the itinerary around them.
Permits & Checkpoints
Foreigners register with the police in Chitral and pay a small entry fee for the Kalash valleys. Our team arranges both, so you just need your passport and visa.
When to Go
Uchal usually takes place around 20–22 August, the warmest and greenest time in the Kalash valleys. Read our guide to the best time to visit Pakistan.
Reserve Your Place on the Tour
Message us with your preferred dates and group size, and our team will send you full details and a quote for the Kalash Summer Festival.
